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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Continuance for blood retesting allowed in California DUI death case

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A judge in the california dui case against 19-year-old Katie McKewon granted a request to continue the case to April 11.

In the california dui hearing this morning at the Pleasanton courthouse, Kirk Elliot, who is representing the teen, said he wanted to re-test california dui blood samples that McKewon gave to authorities after a california dui car accident that killed her passenger, 19-year-old Laurel Williams.

The Oct. 20 california dui accident occurred in the morning along Foothill Road, just north of Highland Oaks Drive. McKewon, at the wheel, allegedly crossed over the center divide, crashing head-on into a Mercedes SUV, killing Williams and seriously injuring the driver of the Mercedes.

She was arrested in November on a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter and four counts of felony drunk driving causing great bodily injury / california dui . Police said tests showed McKewon had a blood alcohol level of .23, more than three times the legal limit for persons over the age of 21. Those younger than 21 cannot have any measurable amount of alcohol in their system, according toc alifornia dui state law.

When McKewon was arrested for california dui , she had been staying in an alcohol rehabilitation facility. Elliot told the judge this morning that his client has been attending alcohol classes since she's been in custody.

This is the third time the case against McKewon has been continued. The california dui defendant was expected to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Also continued was a prior incident that occurred last June, where McKewon was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Both hearings have been scheduled by Judge Christine Moruza for April 11.

In a related matter, charges against Brentwood resident Paul Stonebarger, 21, who was arrested in connection with providing alcohol for the party that McKewon and Williams attended the night before the accident, will be heard Wednesday when Stonebarger is expected to enter a plea.